Amarantine (album)
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Amarantine is the sixth studio album by Irish singer, songwriter and musician Enya, released on 21 November 2005 by Warner Music internationally and on 22 November 2005 by Reprise Records in the United States. Following her promotional tour in support of her previous album A Day Without Rain (2000), and work for the soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Enya began writing and recording for a new album. Amarantine was recorded in Ireland with her long time recording partners, arranger and producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan. It marks Enya's song recorded in Japanese.
Amarantine received mixed to positive reviews from critics, but it was a commercial success, peaking at number eight in the United Kingdom and number six on Billboard 200 in the United States, where one million copies of the album were shipped within its first month of release. Enya released two singles from the album, "Amarantine" and "It's in the Rain". In the United States, "Someone Said Goodbye" was released as a promotional single. In 2007, the album won Enya her fourth Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. According to Nielsen SoundScan, it is the third top selling new age album of the 2000s in the United States.[1]
Recording and music
Loxian is an artistic language created by Roma and is used in three songs on Amarantine. Roma released a book with the language in December 2005, Water Shows the Hidden Heart. The language was partly inspired by the Elvish languages created by J. R. R. Tolkien.
The opening bars to the song Sumiregusa is from the first part of John Andrew Stevenson's "Vesper Hymn".
In September 2004, "Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)" was released in Japan as part of an advertising campaign for Panasonic. Warner Music Japan stated that Amarantine would be released in November 2004, but Enya issued a press release on her website two months prior stating no release was immediately planned.
Release and reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 55/100[2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Billboard | mixed[2] |
E! Online | C[2] |
Entertainment.ie | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C[5] |
The New York Times | unfavorable[6] |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Amarantine received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 55, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 7 reviews.
In addition to the standard version of the album, two other editions were released. A Special Christmas Edition was released in 2006, featuring a second disc of four new Christmas songs: "Adeste, Fideles", "The Magic of the Night", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Christmas Secrets". A Deluxe Collector's Edition contains the album, the second edition of the book Water Shows the Hidden Heart by Roma Ryan, and exclusive photos. The extra tracks on the Special Christmas Edition were released as an extended play titled Sounds of the Season: The Enya Holiday Collection in the United States and Christmas Secrets EP in Canada.
Amarantine spent thirty-eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Top New Age Albums chart.[8][9]
Track listing
All titles composed and performed by Enya, except "Adeste, Fideles" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (traditional, arr. Enya and Nicky Ryan). All songs produced by Nicky Ryan. All lyrics by Roma Ryan, except "Adeste, Fideles" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Less Than a Pearl" | 3:44 |
2. | "Amarantine" | 3:13 |
3. | "It's in the Rain" | 4:08 |
4. | "If I Could Be Where You Are" | 4:01 |
5. | "The River Sings" | 2:49 |
6. | "Long Long Journey" | 3:17 |
7. | "Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)" | 4:42 |
8. | "Someone Said Goodbye" | 4:02 |
9. | "A Moment Lost" | 3:08 |
10. | "Drifting" | 4:12 |
11. | "Amid the Falling Snow" | 3:38 |
12. | "Water Shows the Hidden Heart" | 4:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Adeste, Fideles" | 3:58 | |
14. | "The Magic of the Night" | Traditional | 3:34 |
15. | "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" | Traditional | 3:40 |
16. | "Christmas Secrets" | 3:47 |
Production
- Musicians
- Enya – vocals, instruments
- Production
- Enya – arrangement, mixing
- Nicky Ryan – production, arrangement, engineering, mixing, conceptual cover design, inner sleeve design and artwork, layout
- Roma Ryan – Loxian language and font, lyrics (except "Adeste, Fideles" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
- Dick Beetham – mastering at 360 Mastering, London
- Daniel Polley – digital technical adviser, engineering
- Simon Fowler – photography
- Ebony Ryan – conceptual cover design, inner sleeve design, layout
- Persia Ryan – inner sleeve artwork
- Intro – cover and inner sleeve production
Accolades
Grammy Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Amarantine | Best New Age Album[10] | Won |
Japan Gold Disc Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Amarantine | Best International Pop Albums of the Year[11] | Won |
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF)[49] | Gold | 20,000^ |
Australia (ARIA)[50] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Belgium (BEA)[51] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[52] | Gold | 50,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[53] | Gold | 20,000^ |
France (SNEP)[54] | Platinum | 0* |
Germany (BVMI)[55] | 2× Platinum | 400,000^ |
Hungary (MAHASZ)[56] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Ireland (IRMA)[57] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[58] | 2× Platinum | 500,000^ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[59] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[60] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[62] | Gold | 0* |
Portugal (AFP)[63] | Platinum | 20,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[64] | Gold | 40,000^ |
Sweden (GLF)[65] | Gold | 30,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66] | 2× Platinum | 80,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[68] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[69] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
Worldwide | — | 6,000,000 |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Worldwide | 21 November 2005 | Warner Music | |
United States | 22 November 2005 | Reprise Records |
References
- ^ "New Age Albums | Billboard.com". billboard.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Critic Reviews for Amarantine". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Entertainment.ie review
- ^ Entertainment Weekly review
- ^ The New York Times review
- ^ USA Today review
- ^ Billboard http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-12-10/new-age-albums
- ^ Billboard http://www.billboard.com/charts/2006-08-26/new-age-albums
- ^ "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "第20回日本ゴールドディスク大賞". Retrieved 1 February 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "australian-charts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "austriancharts.at Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "ultratop.be Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "ultratop.be Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Amarantine > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "danishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine". danishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "finnishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "lescharts.com – Enya – Amarantine" (ASP) (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Album Search: Enya – Amarantine" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Hungarian Albums Chart". Mahasz.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 3 December 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 01 December 2005". Irish Recorded Music Association. Chart-Track. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ "italiancharts.com Enya – Amarantine". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "エンヤ-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|trans_title=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "charts.org.nz Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "poruguescharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "spanishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Enya – Amarantine – hitparade.ch" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Enya > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2005". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 2005" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 2005". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Classement Albums – année 2005". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 2005" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Årslista Album – År 2005" (in Swedish). Hitlistan.se. Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
{{cite web}}
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requires|archive-url=
(help) - ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2006". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 2006" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2006". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 2006". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2006" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "2006年 アルバム年間TOP100" (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006". Swiss Music Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original (ASP) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 2006". billboard.biz. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
- ^ "Argentinian album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2005". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2005 to obtain certification.
- ^ "French album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Enya; 'Amarantine')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2005" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - 2005 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
- ^ "Japanese album certifications – Enya – アマランタイン" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2006年09月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Enya in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Amarantine in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Amarantine in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ Expression error: Unexpected <= operator
- ^ "Portuguese album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-url=
is malformed: timestamp (help) - ^ "Spanish album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2005" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Amarantine')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Amarantine in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2005". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
External links
- Enya's website
- Loxian on the BBC
- "Amarantine" press release
- Amarantine at Discogs (list of releases)
- Amarantine at Metacritic